Dix Hills family, dog escape house fire, officials say

All residents, including the family dog, were able to safely evacuate a single-story home damaged by an early morning fire Friday in Dix Hills, fire officials said.

The fire at the home on Wolf Hill Road was reported at 5:02 a.m.

Officials said Dix Hills Fire Chief Robert Fling arrived first on the scene to find everyone evacuated and was able to enter the home and close a door to a bedroom where the fire had originated, enabling firefighters to contain the fire damage.

There was smoke damage to the remainder of the house, officials said. About three dozen firefighters got the blaze under control within about 20 minutes, minimizing the damage.

There were no reported injuries.

Officials said three Dix Hills fire engines, an ambulance and rehab and paramedic units were on scene, with mutual aid provided by the Greenlawn and Huntington Manor fire departments, as well as the Commack Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

The Town of Huntington Cyanide Response Team also was dispatched to the scene, a standard practice now among town fire companies — since officials said their presence puts medical experts on scene to combat possible smoke inhalation issues.

The Suffolk Police Arson Squad and Huntington Town Fire Marshal are investigating the cause of the blaze.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”